Lighting device for a vehicle

Abstract

A lighting device includes a reflector, and a lens attached to a front open portion of the reflector. Cantilever-type elastic legs are formed on those portions of the lens respectively opposed to engagement holes in the reflector, and extend in a direction of the circumference of the lens. Engagement projections, for engagement in respective engagement holes, are formed at respective distal end portions of the elastic legs. When the lens is formed into a thin design, the length of the elastic legs in the circumferential direction is not limited, and each elastic leg can have a length sufficient to enable it to be elastically deformed so as to fit the engagement projection into the engagement hole. Therefore, the engagement projection can be positively and easily engaged in the engagement hole. Even if one tried to forcibly engage the engagement projection in the engagement hole, the elastic leg will not break.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A lighting device for a vehicle comprising: 
       a reflector having a front open portion, said front open portion including a peripheral edge portion, wherein at least one engagement hole is formed in said peripheral edge portion; and  
       a lens attached to the front open portion of said reflector, wherein said lens includes:  
       at least one cantilever elastic leg formed on said lens so as to be opposed to the at least one engagement hole in said reflector, the entire elastic leg protruding and extending generally in a direction along a periphery of said lens, said at least one elastic leg further including a distal end portion and an outer surface: and  
       an engagement projection formed at the distal end portion of said at least one elastic leg, and disposed in the at least one engagement hole so as to support said lens on said reflector.  
     
     
       2. A lighting device for a vehicle according to  claim 1 , said lens further including 
       a cylindrical flange of a substantially cylindrical shape for insertion into said front open portion, said cylindrical flange being formed integrally with a peripheral edge of said lens and so as to include a peripheral wall, and  
       a slit in the peripheral wall of said cylindrical flange, said slit being positioned so as to form said at least one elastic leg,  
       wherein said at least one engagement projection is formed on and projects radially outwardly from the outer surface of said at least one elastic leg.  
     
     
       3. A lighting device for a vehicle according to  claim 2 , wherein a length of said at least one elastic leg, in the direction of the circumference of said cylindrical flange, is larger than a length of said cylindrical flange in a direction parallel to an optical axis of said lens. 
     
     
       4. A lighting device for a vehicle according to  claim 2 , wherein said cylindrical flange has at least one ear portion extending radially outwardly from said cylindrical flange, and 
       wherein said at least one elastic leg is formed on said ear portion.  
     
     
       5. A lighting device for a vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one engagement hole includes a plurality of engagement holes which are arranged at different intervals in a circumferential direction of the front open portion of said reflector. 
     
     
       6. A lighting device for a vehicle according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least one elastic leg further includes a plurality of elastic legs, and further wherein said plurality of elastic legs has their engagement projections arranged at intervals corresponding to those intervals at which said plurality of engagement holes are arranged. 
     
     
       7. A lighting device for a vehicle according to  claim 1 , said lens further including 
       a cylindrical flange of a substantially cylindrical shape for insertion into said front open portion, said cylindrical flange being formed monolithic with a peripheral edge of said lens and so as to include a peripheral wall, and  
       a slit in the peripheral wall of said cylindrical flange, said slit being positioned so as to form said at least one elastic leg,  
       wherein said at least one engagement projection is formed on and projects radially outwardly from the outer surface of said at least one elastic leg.